Report: Kyrie Irving said he'd have surgery if Cavs didn't trade him

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder with the Cleveland Cavaliers, we learn that the summer saga of Kyrie Irving’s trade demand was even more dramatic than previously thought.

After Irving learned that the Cavs were dangling him in trade talks, Irving demanded a trade. Making matters even harder for the Cavs in trying to deal with the demand was that Irving told the Cavs he’d have surgery on his knee during the season if they didn’t trade him, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.

The Cavs then felt compelled to meet Irving’s demands, which apparently upset James. The procedure would be minor but something the Celtics All-Star guard apparently needs.

From Vardon

According to sources, Irving needs minor knee surgery as a follow to the procedure he underwent during the 2015 Finals to repair his broken knee cap. It’s not pressing — Irving is averaging 24.5 points and shooting a career-high .477 from the field — but the procedure would ease some of the swelling and day-to-day pain he feels.

Such a procedure is typically done in the offseason; but he threatened to not come to training camp (first reported by ESPN) and then have the procedure during the season, leaving the Cavs without a point guard.

The Cavs chose to move Irving rather than call his bluff, which upset James, sources said. Irving has millions of dollars in endorsements, including with Nike, and missing the year may have impeded one of his career goals of growing his brand.